Welcome Students, Parents and Teachers!





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This Wiki is designed to provide support for my students K-5 and parents for navigating reading and writing tools in the resource room. The primary purpose of this Wiki is to provide my students and parents with information and tutorials about technology that I will be using in the upcoming school year (2011-2012) in my classroom and how it can be accessed from home. Additionally, it was provided to allow teacher users to navigate and learn about each tool and how they can be used to support learners with disabilities in the K-5 classroom.

This Wiki is divided into two parts: Writing and Reading. Below, you will find a brief description of each piece of technology used. Please visit each page for more detail on each program along with a YouTube video tutorial for each technology.

The programs below were chosen for several reasons, some of the programs were already being utilized in my school district and some of them are free. If a resource is not free, a link to a free trial has been provided. These are all great resources and some of which can be helpful for parents to assist in the home to school connection. On the last page, there is a space for comments and questions.

Writing:
  • Spelling: Spelling City is a helpful website (study tool) that will assist with spelling. As a teacher, parent or student you can view and navigate through weekly spelling lists, tests, flash cards and games are already developed for my students who are using the Language! Program. Spelling City is FREE for some programs such as accessing spelling lists, tests and games. You must be a subscriber to access flash cards and other materials.
  • Concept Mapping: Is a software where students can develop concept mapping and organize thoughts for prewriting through a very inexpensive program called Kidspiration. The teacher/adult version of the program is called, Inspiration and this program allows the teacher to design concept mapping to teach prewriting skills and webbing. Unfortunately, Inspiration and Kidspiration are NOT FREE. They are available through our school subscription.
  • Word Processing: Word Q, Speak Q this software provides writing assistance to students and adults for daily writing tasks. Unfortunately, Word Q, Speak Q is NOT FREE. It is available through our school subscription.

Reading:

  • Fluency/Reading Comprehension: VoiceThread is a website to discuss media in five different ways. This is a tool that is appropriate for all ages! Each message can be no longer than 1 minute. VoiceThread is FREE too!
  • Fluency/Reading Comprehension: Raz-Kids is a website that has leveled books for students K-6. The students are entered at their reading level and only books at their level are available for them to read. Once they have reached a higher reading level their book level on Raz-Kids will be adjusted. One feature that is very popular among students is to practice reading at home and record their voices using a microphone. Raz-Kids is NOT FREE. It is available through our school subscription.